The weekend’s Aviva Premiership action saw Exeter Chiefs narrowly defeat Harlequins 26-25 at Sandy Park, but it was the visitors who attracted the most attention in the game, courtesy of a bizarre try from Tim Visser.
The Dutch-born Scottish winger made the inter-season transfer from Edinburgh to join the 2012 champions, and has already scored three tries in all competitions for the club.
This one was perhaps his most unusual though. Mike Brown’s chip through – which probably had too much on it – bounced back off the corner flag after seemingly heading straight for the in goal area, and ricocheted back into play.
Comically, Visser then re-gathered the ball in between his legs before touching down for the score.
The try was awarded as a result of rule 22.12 of the World Rugby Regulations (Ball or player touching a flag or flag (corner) post. The regulation reads:
“If the ball or a player carrying the ball touches a flag or a flag (corner) post at the intersection of the touch-in-goal lines and the goal lines or at the intersection of the touch-in-goal lines and the dead ball lines without otherwise being in touch or touch-in-goal the ball is not out of play unless it is first grounded against a flag post.”
As the saying goes, you make your own luck sometimes.
You can see the try below, and watch highlights from the match on the next page
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